ERA-NET Cofund under Horizon 2020 were designed to support Public-Public Partnerships, including Joint Programming Initiatives between Member States, in their preparation, establishment of networking structures, design, implementation and coordination of joint activities as well as Union topping-up of a trans-national call for proposals. It was implemented by using "programme co-fund actions". It allowed for programme collaboration in any part of the entire research-innovation cycle.
The main and compulsory activity of the ERA-NET Cofund under Horizon 2020 was the implementation of the co-funded joint call for proposals that led to the funding of trans-national research and/or innovation projects (one co-funded call per Grant Agreement).